Frequently Banned and Challenged Classics
"The Catcher in the Rye" | J.D. Salinger
Select reasons listed for bans: "anti-white," "obscene," "blasphemous," "centered around negative activity."
"The Grapes of Wrath" | John Steinbeck
Select reasons listed for bans: "spreading propaganda unfavorable to the state," "full of filth," "contains the phrase 'God damn.'"
"To Kill a Mockingbird" | Harper Lee
Select reasons listed for bans: "contains profanity and racial slurs," "conflicts with the values of the community," "does psychological damage to the positive integration process."
"The Color Purple" | Alice Walker
Select reasons listed for bans: "rough language," "smut," "too violent."
"Welcome to the Monkey House" | Kurt Vonnegut
Select reasons for bans: "explicit sex and scenes of sexual assault," "contains scenes of euthanasia."
Surprising Banned and Challenged Picture Books
"The Family Book" | Todd Parr
Contains the sentence, "Some families have two moms or two dads.” Source: author's website
"The Lorax" | Dr. Seuss
"Negative portrayal of the logging industry." Source: ACLU Michigan
"Grandad's Camper" | Harry Woodgate
LGBTQIA+ content, "contrary to natural biology." Source: ALA, local challenge
"Unicorns are the Worst!" | Alex Willan
Illustration of goblin's rear end "harmful to minors." Source: PEN America
American Library Association Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024
"All Boys Aren't Blue" | George M. Johnson
39 challenges relating to LGBTQIA+ content and claims of being sexually explicit. Source: ALA
Book Resume
"Gender Queer: A Memoir" | Maia Kobabe
38 challenges, challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit. Source: ALA
"The Bluest Eye" | Toni Morrison
35 challenges, challenged for: depiction of sexual assault, depiction of incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content. Source: ALA
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" | Stephen Chbosky
35 challenges, challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual assault, depiction of drug use, profanity. Source: ALA
"Tricks" | Ellen Hopkins
33 challenges, challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit. Source: ALA
"Looking for Alaska" | John Green
30 challenges, challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit. Source: ALA
"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" | Jesse Andrews
30 challenges, challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity. Source: ALA
"Crank" | Ellen Hopkins
28 challenges, challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of drug use. Source: ALA
"Sold" | Patricia McCormick
28 challenges, challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of sexual assault. Source: ALA
"Flamer" | Mike Curato
27 challenges, challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit. Source: ALA
Top Banned Books in Public Schools, 2023-2024 School Year (not already represented in ALA 2024 list)
"Nineteen Minutes" | Jodi Picoult
Contains a brief scene depicting date rape, uses anatomically correct words for the human body.
"Thirteen Reasons Why" | Jay Asher
Banned for drug and alcohol use, sexual content, suicide, and being unsuited for age group.
"Identical" | Ellen Hopkins
Plot includes an abusive father.
"The Kite Runner" | Khalid Hosseini
Contains sexual content, “racially divisive” rhetoric, LGBTQ themes, references to abortion, and criticism of Christianity.
"The Handmaid's Tale" | Margaret Atwood
Profanity, sexual content, alleged anti-Christian themes, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters.